“Peace be still; Peace be with you; Peace, I leave you, my peace I give you.” We have heard these verses a million times. We quote these words and tell friends when they need to hear them. However, do we REALLY think about how deeply healing these words are? We want peace, we search for peace…yet somehow it eludes us. We want others to believe we are peaceful, we have it all together, or we have enough faith to be at peace. We don’t want to admit that we question, “Lord, where is this peace?”
Join us as we explore pathways to true inner peace. What better place to do so than the beautiful grounds of Bon Secours? Together, we will learn how those who came before us found peace, discover ways to cultivate a life of peace, and explore spiritual practices and devotions that can help nurture a peaceful spirit.
This retreat is for all ages and stages of life. Perhaps you are a young mother juggling countless responsibilities, recently retired and discerning what comes next, or navigating one of life’s many challenges — illness, loneliness, loss, or uncertainty. Whatever your circumstances, you are invited to come and discover your own personal journey to peace.
Throughout the weekend, we will engage in short presentations, group activities, self-reflection, and quiet time for contemplation. As part of the retreat, we will create an acrylic painting together — absolutely no artistic skill is necessary. This guided, peaceful painting experience will be offered in a relaxed “paint and sip” style. You will take your painting home with you, and it is my hope that it will serve as a lasting reminder that the spirit of peace is always with you, quietly whispering, “Peace, be still.” Guided by Susan Warnick Breslin.
Lodging and meals are included. Check-in begins at 4pm. There will be a brief welcome session at 5:30pm, followed by dinner at 6pm. The retreat begins after dinner at 7pm on Friday and concludes after lunch at 1pm on Sunday. Mass will be available Sunday morning for those who wish to attend.
Susan Warnick Breslin, MSN, RN, CPN, CSD is a graduate of the Bon Secours Spiritual Direction Institute and an associate of Bon Secours. Susan has been a pediatric nurse caring for children with traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries for 40 years. She now is a nursing professor at Johns Hopkins and Anne Arundel Community College. Her career began working with Dr. Benjamin Carson at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. She was profoundly affected by what she experienced there and in her personal life. Demonstrating compassion, concern, and understanding became her motivation for remaining in an emotionally draining specialty for so many years. Susan knew she could not change the situation but focused on easing the emotional and physical toll on these families any way she could, listening to them and offering them peace. She has facilitated support groups for parents of children with brain tumors, young widows, care givers, and bereavement. Through these experiences, she felt called to become a spiritual director. She now sees clients through her Soul Friend Ministry, where her focus is on spiritual peace in all phases of life. She guides clients to practice peace and forgiveness through surrender, detachment, faith, and assurance through Our Lord, The Prince of Peace. She is also co-founder of The Von-Hippel Lindau Alliance, an organization dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life for individuals affected by Von-Hippel Lindau disease.